Neither rain nor storm nor extended delay could dampen anyone’s spirits.
As part of their latest headlining tour, Third Eye Blind made a stop at the Farm Bureau Lawn at White River Park, bringing along the recently-reunited Dashboard Confessional, and Augustana for even more fun.
On paper, this show is for awkward teenage me. The one that typically heard Third Eye Blind on the station formerly known as X-103, and sang along to Dashboard because that seemed like the best way to express my angst. Now almost 10 years later, I get to see both in person, with about 50 feet separating me from them. All in all, not a bad way to experience my first outdoor show this summer, even if the temperature is dropping, dark clouds are moving in, and there have been sheets of rain everywhere I’ve gone today.
Will the rain hold out? We’ll see, and if anything, I’ve always wanted to be at an outdoor show in the rain. Armed with my ear plugs and a water-resistant running jackets. Let’s get started.
There’s actually a pretty decent turnout despite the looming threat of severe weather off on the horizon, with plenty of rented lawn chairs set up in the general admission area. Meanwhile, barricades surround an area closer to the stage for “reserved seating.” After weaving through the crowd – composed mainly of people closer to my age and older – I find my chair, and not a moment too soon. Our first act is about to take the stage.
Almost unannounced, the guys in Augustana take the stage. Admittedly, the only reason I know them is because they were featured on an episode of The Big Bang Theory (because I like to live under a rock). Actually, I didn’t even know they were on the bill. I do like surprises, so how did they do?
Much of the crowd is still filing into the Lawn, but there are still patches of people singing along and enjoying their brief-but-enjoyable set. The downside? The band looked very small on the massive stage, and not just because they only took up but a small space in the center. Don’t get me wrong, Augustana sounded great, but it wasn’t much of a show. They tended to just stand around and play and sing. Some bands can get away with that, but ultimately, I can get as much starting at my record player. Overall, not a bad performance, but not a great one either.
Our next band begins to set up, and Chris Carrabba has been spotted by the front of the stage taking pictures with several fans. While this is going on, the wind starts to pick up and some people start to break out the ponchos. I’ve got one eye on the weather and another on the stage. Of course I’m hoping for the best, or that it at least rains and does nothing else. Why? Because I’ve waited over 10 years for this moment.
For those who didn’t know, Dashboard Confessional has been absent for the past 5 years while each of the members focused on other projects. Earlier this year, they announced they would be getting back together, much to the delight of people in their late-20s whose personal soundtrack used to the The Places You Have Come To Fear the Most. Times have changed, and we’ve all grown older (and hopefully less angst-y), but it’s nice to revisit the past sometimes.
And that’s exactly what Chris Carrabba does to start things out, walking on stage by himself armed with only an acoustic guitar and telling everyone he wants to do things “just like the old days.” With that, we go ring into a rousing sing-along with “Swiss Army Romance.” Having watched that MTV Unplugged DVD several times, I can’t tell you how exciting it was to actually witness it, albeit in a much larger and less intimate setting.
Sing-alongs are a big part of Dashboard’s live show, and there were plenty of those throughout their set. Surprisingly, it felt like they gave more attention to their “classic” songs than anything else (though they did joke that since they’ve been gone for so long, almost every song is a “classic” now). It’s not all dedicated to the old school stuff. Carrabba took a moment to invite two of the members of his other band – Twin Forks – to the stage for a song.
Unfortunately, the weather can’t hold out forever, and soon, sheets of rain are falling on all of us. The band reassures of that it’s only water, and that we’ll be fine. Many break out their ponchos or rain jackets. Others, like the resourceful group in front of me, folded up their chairs and held it over their heads (and got a shout-out from the band for their efforts). The rain does little to dampen our spirits. If anything, it just makes things even more fun, and it kind of fits the mood of “Screaming Infidelities.”
So here I am, standing in the Lawn with a few hundred of my closest friends, singing to old Dashboard songs in the rain drenched from head to toe with the biggest smile on my face (and also one hand over my eye because that much rain is causing my contact to fall out). So imagine the disappointment when the band announces they have to cut things short due to an impending storm (those swirling clouds overhead didn’t look too promising either). From there, they’re given one last song – the much-happier “Hands Down” and a last farewell.
The rain has let up, but officials warn us of another incoming front. The show is postponed, and we’re instructed to seek shelter until it passes. Some head for the parking garages or try to stay underneath the awning at a nearby building. The rest head to the neighboring hotels, myself included.
My plans to get coffee are thwarted when the Marriot’s Starbucks was closed, and I’m not in the drinking mood. So it’s off to find a chair or a wall to lean against, constantly refreshing my phone for updates on the show and catching bits and pieces of the NHL Playoffs (who knew we had so many Blackhawks fans in this town?).
It’s been close to an hour, and still no word on what’s going on. Some people have given up and gone home. One dedicated group decided to have their own Third Eye Blind concert at the bar, singing a capella covers of their greatest hits (aca-awesome). I’m sitting in this chair bored and monitoring everyone else to see if they’re heading outside. I like playoff hockey, but I kind of came here for music.
Off in the distance, I hear someone say the gates are open again. After checking Twitter, it’s back over to the Lawn.
The mood has shifted since our lengthy delay, with much of the excitement coming from resuming the show than anything else. Regardless, there are some here in the reserved seating area (which now lacks seats since they got rid of them during the weather delay) who are here for our headliner. Since the chairs were removed, everyone has just gathered in front of the stage like it’s the pit at Klipsch. Hey, I’m not complaining. I get to move closer without being told to go back to my seat (this happened earlier during Dashboard).
How excitable is everyone who stayed? Whenever a light goes up or someone hears something going on, cheers break out. It’s a lengthy wait, but it’s understandable this time. Crews essentially have to set everything back up, uncover all of the gear, and take a squeegee to the stage to get rid of any excess water. It feels like it’s taking forever, but it’ll be worth it. I’d prefer if the band doesn’t have any water-related mishaps on the stage.
Seemingly without warning, members of the band walk out onto the stage. Frontman Stephan Jenkins hangs back by the drum kit using a microphone that kind of looks like what boxing announcers used to use. It’s right into “Graduate,” and this show is underway (again).
There’s very little crowd interaction throughout the next hour – I’m assuming the weather delay prompted this – but everyone who stuck around got to see an enjoyable set full of favorites old and new, hands in the air, a drum solo, and a band that proves they’ve still got it after all these years.
Jenkins notes how surprised he is that so many people are still here, and promised we’d still hear a full set. Obviously, we have no issues with that. We dance, we sing, some jump around or yell out messages professing their love for the band (some NSFW), and they assure us they can hear everything we’re saying.
It’s a very cliché thing to say, but you kind of believe him when he says this. He sounded genuinely surprised and humbled that people cared this much to wait through the storm to watch his band. Even more surprising was his reaction when everyone was singing the guitar solo during “Jumper.” Of course, this was wholeheartedly embraced. We may be nearing the end of the night, and this may be the second night of the tour, but they promise, this show will stick with them for a while.
We’ve been here for hours, but this set just flew by. After “Jumper,” they bid everyone farewell and exit the stage, with demands of an encore following shortly thereafter. Eventually, they oblige with their hit “Semi-Charmed Life.” Before they leave for good, they promise one more song in “The Background” before finally sending us off on our way. It’s been a long night, but a fun one. Now it’s back to my car to try to recall enough information to type into a blog post.
Final verdict?
My shoes are soaked (Chucks are bad sometimes), not a single part of me was dry, and my patience was being tested by Mother Nature (visions of the inaugural WETfest came up in my head), but if this is how my summer concert season starts, we’re in for a good one this year. If anything, the rain only added to how things went this evening. I got to see two bands from my teenage years that I admire surrounded by people more enthusiastic than me.
And that experience, not even Gene Kelly can touch.
The Good:
Surprisingly, the weather. Yes, the person who usually complains about it being too hot or too cold loves it when sheets of rain pour down (when the show doesn’t get canceled, that is). Plus, singing along to all of those songs from my awkward teenage years is something I’ll always love.
The Bad:
The lengthy delay may have been a hindrance, but Mother Nature isn’t something we can really fight against (unless the show is indoors).